Jannik's Sinner's on-court interview by James Blake following his win against Jack Draper in the semifinals if the 2024 US Open.nnJames Blake :nJannik, you've got to tell me about that second set. Congratulations, that was unbelievable, but it had absolutely everything. The drama, your opponent not feeling good, you falling, how's your wrist?nIt had everything going in that second set.nnJannik Sinner :nYeah, first of all, me and Jack (Draper), we know each other very well. We are good friends off the court. It was a very physical match, as we see.nI just tried to stay there mentally. He's so tough to beat. It's a very special occasion.nThanks everyone to come out. The support has been amazing. I'm just happy to be in the final here.nnJames Blake :nYou've gained so many fans these last couple of weeks. Now the final is coming up and you're going to be playing an American (Fritz or Tiafoe) no matter what. How do you think that's going to be?nHow do you think that's going to feel, playing an American here in the finals of the U.S. Open?nnJannik Sinner nI'm just happy to be in the final here. Whoever it is, it's going to be a very tough challenge for me. But I'm just looking forward to it.nIt's the season I'm going through. It's very, very positive. Finals, they are very special days.nEvery Sunday you get to play during tournament means that you are doing an amazing job. We just try to keep pushing and then we'll see what I can do Sunday.nnJames Blake :nWell, congratulations. Everybody, Jannik Sinner to the final.

Jessica Pegula's press conference following her win vs. Karolina Muchova in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.nnQuestion :nJess, if you would, your thoughts on the win.nnJessica Pegula :nYeah, that was quite the match. Obviously, happy to be here sitting, saying that I turned it around. But obviously, it was looking a little rough there for a while.nBut somehow, I found a way and was actually able to play some really good tennis and keep that momentum a lot through that third set and close it out. But yeah, I thought in the third, we had some really good tennis. End of the second and the third.nBut yeah, happy just with the way I was able to compete.nnQuestion :nI'm Darcy Wayne from eSkid.com. Congratulations. You said on the court after the match that you were kind of embarrassed after that first set.nShe made you look like a beginner out there. So how were you able to mentally regroup for that second set to come out and do what you just did?nnPegula :nI don't know. I still didn't really regroup after the first set. I went down 2-0 pretty quickly and down in that service game and was able to make that kind of really good get where she missed that volley.nAnd it seemed like that was a big momentum swing. And I was able to just hold on to my serve there and find a way. I think the crowd really helped me get some adrenaline into me.nI think I was just very, very flat. I wasn't even nervous. I was just super flat.nAnd she's really tough to play when you're flat because she's tricky. She doesn't give you a lot of rhythm. And then obviously, at the end of the first, she was playing some extremely high levels.nSo I just had no rhythm. So I don't know. I think just that game, really holding that game, I was able to just find some adrenaline, get my legs under me, just try and chase down every single ball that I could.nAnd then after that, once I had some rhythm and started feeling more comfortable, I was able to maybe play a little bit more aggressive, try and come in a little bit more, attack the serve. Dictate with my forehand a little bit and kind of find my game after that. But I think it was really just holding that game in the second.nnQuestion :nDavid Cain, Tennis.com. I have to imagine yesterday probably felt like a big emotional release to finally get over that hurdle. I'm curious if that contributed to maybe why you felt flat to start the match and what was it like resetting after last night to prepare for today?nnPegula :nYeah, it was weird. I feel like before the match with Iga, I was way more nervous. And today I was kind of just like, whatever.nBut I don't know, maybe that was bad because I clearly like came out super flat. I was trying to think that maybe it was good that I felt really loose, but clearly I was a little too loose. So I don't really know if that if what happened.nI don't know. Every day again, you feel different. Some days you come out, you feel great.nSome days you come out and you are super flat. And I think you just have to deal with it. But, you know, I'm sure playing back to back matches to playing back to back nights maybe could have contributed as well.nBut I don't really know. I guess we'll never really know. But I think I think that's the challenge of playing at a slam.nIt's just every day you feel you wake up different. Everything can be different. So it's how you adapt to that situation.nAnd I think obviously I was able to adapt just in the nick of time tonight. But yeah, I think that's just what happens sometimes. Really.nnQuestion :nWhen you have faced Aryna before, what has been the key to the matches for you? And what are your thoughts about playing her now for the championship, given all that she represents with her game on hard courts?nnPegula :nYeah, well, obviously she's, you know, a really great hardcourt player, if not one of the best in the world. But I think that I'm also a really good hardcourt player. And I'll you know, Cincinnati, she served unbelievable.nAnd I felt like I still had chances in that match. So hopefully she doesn't serve that good Saturday. Maybe a little bit less would be nice.nBut I think I know that I can have a game that can possibly frustrated her, frustrate her. I feel like in the past, I just have to be aggressive. I have to get her moving, serve smart and, you know, try and put some pressure on her return or on her serve and play my game, which is kind of what I do already.nI try to do those things and, you know, play within myself, pick my spots. You know, I want to say like aggressive, but, you know, not overdo it. I don't know just how I kind of play.nAnd hopefully I'm able to execute that. And if there's something in the match that maybe is working or not working, then I can figure those things out. But, you know, I'm just going to kind of try and play my game Saturday.nnQuestion :nPeter, just Peter Spangiorgio, New York Daily News. How meaningful is it for you to be going to the final?nnPegula :nYeah, I mean, it's amazing. I it's a childhood dream. It's what I wanted when I was a kid.nIt's a lot of work, a lot of hard work put in, and it's just you couldn't even imagine how much goes into it. So it would mean the world to me, obviously. I mean, I'm just happy to be in a final, but obviously I come here to want to win the title.nSo, you know, if you would have told me at the beginning of the year, I'd be in the finals of the U.S. Open, I would have like laughed so hard because that just was where my head was, was not thinking that I would be here. So to be able to overcome all those challenges and say that I get a chance at the title Saturday is what we play for as players. And let alone being able to do that, you know, in my home country here at my, you know, home slam.nI mean, it's just it's perfect, really.nnQuestion :nAva Wallace, The Washington Post. Well played, Jess. Kind of going off of that, we spoke to you so much earlier in your career about kind of your persistence and overcoming the early injuries that you had and kind of being really patient before you got these big wins.nJust making the final, even though you're obviously trying to win this thing. Is that rewarding in any way?nnPegula :nOh, yeah. I mean, it's always rewarding to. I mean, you play for two weeks and you just want to get to that match knowing that you have a chance to win a slam.nAnd that's I mean, that's what we play for. So it's still very rewarding, even though I know, you know, the job isn't finished. But yeah, I mean, all the years of hard work going into it, being, like you said, super resilient through a lot of different things is, yeah, I guess what I've been known for.nSo I guess it's nice to see that it's paid off at least the last two weeks. And like you said, of course, I still want to win the tournament. But I think being able to break through so many different challenges and barriers, you know, the last couple of weeks or even the last month, really, for me personally, is a massive win to me.nnQuestion :nCongratulations, Virgil. We had a talk at the Greenbrier WPT 2020. At the time, you told me what this is.nnPegula :nWhat a time.nnQuestion :nRight?nnPegula :nWhat a time. Right.nnQuestion :nThat was a lot of fun.nnPegula :nYeah.nnQuestion :nYou told me at the time this was one of your dreams, as you just mentioned. But how do you explain the improvement, the level of play and confidence that you have in such a short time?nnIntervenant 1nYeah. How do I?nnQuestion :nEspecially now being one step away.nnPegula :nYeah, it's crazy. I think one is I got a lot fitter. I got a lot better at moving, at knowing how to play my game.nAnd I think all those and staying healthy. And I think all that stuff kind of accumulated into me becoming a lot more confident in matches. I feel like my mental toughness just got so much better once you start winning a lot of matches.nAnd you have this belief in yourself that you can win in tough moments and you can beat these girls and all this stuff. And, you know, that's. I mean, that just gives you a lot of confidence going into these weeks and that I've been able to kind of build off of that and learning through different experiences, winning tournaments and all that stuff kind of just adds up and you just you can always improve.nYou can always get better. I think I've always had a really good open mind of always wanting to get things better. I'm very open to trying different things, to changing things and not anything crazy.nBut to just opening up a different perspective on how to get certain things better and not being afraid of trying those things, whether it's a movement thing, it's a shot, it's there's a lot of things I think I'm always working on. And I'm not afraid to also kind of try that in matches as well. And I think when you do that stuff and you try them and you're working on things and you're able to use them in tournaments that you get confident and you're like, wow, I can really get better.nI can improve and I can hit these shots in big moments. And that just kind of builds and it can build really quickly. I mean, I think we saw that with Emma Navarro, who's drastically improved.nI mean, an insane amount in the last year. And now she's just found the belief that she can play at this level and it can happen quickly. So I think it's nice.nI hope I can be an inspiration to other players that maybe feel like they're stuck or they're not getting better, that you can you can always find a way to get better and improve.nnQuestion :nI just Howard Fendrich with the Associated Press. A few minutes ago, you talked about dreaming of this as a kid. Were there moments where along the way you thought, you know, it's just not going to happen for me?nnPegula :nOh, I think I don't know if I thought it's not going to happen, but there's definitely moments where either like I didn't want to play tennis. I didn't really know if I wanted to do it anymore. I mean, you definitely hit those types of low moments.nI've definitely had several of those, but I think in the end, I always would kind of snap back and be like, OK, like, what am I talking about? You know, I would always kind of just flip the script a little bit. And I've always been good at doing that.nAnd I think that's why I've always been able to come back from different challenges even better than before. But, you know, I honestly I've always felt like. Not that it was never going to happen.nAnd I almost think the opposite. I always felt like, you know what, you'll figure it out eventually. And that's kind of something I've always told myself.nI'm like, oh, I'll figure it out like one of these times. And I think that's kind of just maybe my quiet kind of confidence to myself that I feel like I always have.nnQuestion :nHey Jess, congrats. Charlie, from The Athletic. Obviously, it'll be your first major final.nHave you thought about, you know, reaching out to people who've been in that position and asking them for tips? Or are you just going to kind of see how it goes?nnPegula :nYeah, not really. I haven't gotten that far. We'll see who texts me tonight and tomorrow.nMaybe if there's a good name that pops up, I can pick their brain a little bit. But it was actually cool. I James Blake came out because my coach, one of my coaches used to work with him a lot.nAnd so he actually came out to my practice for a long time before the tournament started. And it was nice kind of talking to him because I was a little nervous going in to play Shelby, you know, knowing that she might be retiring and all that. And he was giving me some advice.nBut other than that, I haven't really spoken to many people. I don't know if I feel like it, like I said, if someone texts me that I feel like talking to, but I might just kind of wing it.nnQuestion :nCongrats, Jess. Tim O'Shea, Buffalo News. What do you, the final push to win this thing, what do you do the next couple of days, tomorrow in particular?nPreparation wise, mentally?nnPegula :nYeah, I mean, definitely get home, get some sleep, get some rest. I'll probably just try and practice super light around the same time that I'll play the final Saturday just to kind of get my biological clock on the right time frame and probably just be pretty light, I think. But it depends on how I'm feeling in the morning, but obviously not going to overdo it and try and get ready for Saturday.nBut just kind of rest and a little active recovery. I don't know. I'll see if my trainer wants me to kind of do anything tomorrow, but just make sure the body and everything is feeling good.

Karolina Muchova press conference following her win against Jessica Pegula in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.nnQuestion :nKarolina, if you would, your thoughts on the match?nnKarolina Muchova :nA very tough match. I felt like I started pretty good. I felt like I played in a flow, like everything was going in accord.nI as well felt that she was a little nervous. I think I started great in the first set, but it was going actually kind of easy and I knew that it's not going to go like that all the time. So I tried to still be there and move my legs and keep the tempo.nBut then one point when I had a break point for 3-0 off the volley, I missed that one and I felt like it kind of changed. And she picked it up and she started to play really solid. I missed again a few points, but then it kind of turned around and it was tough to make a point against her.nShe was everywhere, didn't do many mistakes and she played really great and so credits to her.nnQuestion :nIn terms of the shift in the match, how much of that, because obviously the points were shorter in the first set and early in the second and as the match went on it seemed like it became more of a grind. Why do you think that happened?nnMuchova :nI think I started to be a little less aggressive and on the other hand she started to play way better with the match. The balls had better depth so it was tough for me to get on the net and to play these aggressive points. It was really tough to keep that level all the time and I'm lucky I didn't keep it all the time.nThen it was a battle and I felt like I was getting more and more slower and she was still there. She was getting faster so then she beat me.nnQuestion :nWhen you went off at the end of the second set, was that to do with a bug? Was that a physical thing?nnMuchova :nNo, I went to change. I was pretty sweaty so I went to change my clothes. I felt okay.nnQuestion :nCan you look at this tournament in some ways, tough night tonight, but can you look at it overall as a victory? You're healthy, you finished this tournament last year with a serious injury, around for such a long time. So big picture wise, the way you played, the way you feel, must be a lot of positives.nnMuchova :nYeah, for sure it's a lot of positives. I just lost before half an hour so I'm a little bit... Of course now I'm not thinking that much about positives but for sure to even get to the semis and to feel that my game is there, that I can compete against the best, I can win against them.nIt's something that I didn't know when it will come back to me and I feel I'm playing good level. As you mentioned, I'm healthy and I can play more tournaments this year and that's actually the most important thing.nnQuestion :nKarolina, congrats. Giddy Nathan, Defector Media. When you're really in the zone, your game can look so effortless.nI'm wondering what it takes for you mentally to remain in the kind of mental space that lets you play that way.nnMuchova :nTo stay in that space? I didn't get it.nnQuestion :nWhen you're producing your most effortless flowing tennis, how do you kind of stay locked in in the mental space that lets you play that way?nnMuchova :nWell, I just try to focus on the next point. Try to keep basic stuff like breathing, next point, the routines that I have on the court and just be in the moment basically. It didn't work today, but it's just good to get through these matches and get the experience from it and learn from it for the next match like this, what I can do better and how I can improve.nSo I'll just try to learn.

Aryna Sabalenka's press conference following her win against Emma Navarro in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.nnQuestion :nIrina, if you would, your thoughts on the win?nnAryna Sabalenka :nYeah, that was a very difficult match, especially at the end of the second set. I got a little emotional and had this little flashback on last year's final, meaning the crowd atmosphere. And I'm really glad that the lesson was learned and I was able to control my emotions and I was able to close this match in two sets.nnQuestion :nBrian Lewis, Eric Bose. You touched on it, but just how much growth have you made in that area where you have a home crowd obviously cheering for their player and you don't let that, for lack of a better term, get in your head?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I mean, last year was a very tough experience, very tough lesson. And today in the match I was like, no, no, no, Irina, it's not going to happen again. You have to control your emotions, you have to focus on yourself.nAnd there were people supporting for me, I was trying to focus on them, thinking like, come on, there are so many people supporting you. There is your team in the box, there is your family. Just focus on yourself and try to fight for it.nAnd yeah, that's it.nnQuestion :nWhat went into your decision not to play the Olympics? Did it have anything to do with not being able to represent your nation? And now, looking back, do you feel grateful that you did skip it because it allowed you to be prepared for this tournament?nnSabalenka :nI mean, first of all, I got injured before Wimbledon, so I couldn't play anyway. But my decision was based on the tough scheduling, you know, and you have to sacrifice something. And I decided to sacrifice the Olympics for the hardcore season.nAnd I have no regrets on that decision. I mean, it looks like it was the right one. And I had a great kind of like time off.nI did a lot of treatment, a lot of free hop and all that stuff. And then I had a little camp before the hardcore season. And I was able to reset my mind and clean my thoughts and start everything from the beginning.nnQuestion :nI mean, you've had some rough nights here, you referenced last year and had some other things. And yet you seem kind of happy here when you come to this tournament and like you're fresh and it's new. What is it?nOpen mind and sort of seemingly be optimistic after all that's happened to you here?nnSabalenka :nThis year, you said? After everything happened to me this year?nnQuestion :nWell, no, not this year.nnSabalenka :nJust here in the past.nnQuestion :nNo, I'm talking about just at the US Open in New York. I mean, some people would be like, I'm never going to that place again.nnSabalenka :nNo, that's not about me. Yeah, I had really tough lessons here in the past, really. Like, as I think I had so many opportunities here, but they didn't use it for different reasons.nI wasn't ready. Then I got emotional. Then I just couldn't handle the crowd.nAnd so many times, like, not so many times, like I felt like I just missed opportunity. And every time I'm coming back here, I really enjoy being in New York. I enjoy this court, I enjoy crowd, I enjoy playing in front of, in this beautiful stadium in front of the crowd.nAnd I enjoy the city, the time of the court. And every time I'm coming back here, I have this positive thinking only like, come on, maybe, maybe this time. And every time I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to hold that beautiful trophy.nAnd, you know, like, tough losses never, how to say, like, makes me feel depressed. I'm like, not one, like, not thinking, like, of not coming back on the tournament. It's only motivate me to come back and to try one more time, and try harder, and maybe, like, work harder on some things which didn't work in the past.nAnd, yeah, and I'm still hoping to hold that beautiful trophy.nnQuestion :nHi, David King, tennis.com. As much as you enjoy the crowd, what is the toughest part about the crowd on Ash? Is it the fact that they're supporting an American?nIs it the loudness? Is it when they're cheering? Like, what makes it tricky?nnSabalenka :nI would say that, I mean, today wasn't that crazy, actually. They were loud, but during the point, they were respectful and chill, you know. And last year, they were just super loud, even during the point.nAnd it was that loud, so it was blocking my ears. So that was, like, so much pressure. And I think the mistake was that I was focusing on myself, but I didn't think that she's actually also on the same court, feeling the same loudness from the crowd, and we're all in the same conditions.nYeah, they're cheering for her, but how can they help her to win the match? You know, only if I let them get into my head, and only if I'm going to lose my, just lose myself, you know, get crazy. So, yeah, the trickiest is the loudness of how loud it can be in the stadium.nReally, and then smash.nnQuestion :nThey're out playing your next opponent, so we don't know for sure who it'll be. Individually, though, starting with Jessica, what are your thoughts on the matches you've had before and the outlook for this one?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I mean, we had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult, tight matches. And she played really incredible tennis, and we played recently in Cincinnati. It was a really tough match, even though I closed the match in two sets, but still it wasn't that easy.nAnd she's playing her best tennis, I would say, and it feels like she's back on track. I mean, she won the tournament, then she made the final, then she's here a step away from another final. So she's in incredible shape, and it's going to be another great battle against her.nAnd, yeah, I cannot wait to play against her.nnQuestion :nAnd if it's Mukhova, what are your thoughts on what she's done and coming back from injury to regain her form?nnSabalenka :nYeah, that's really incredible, and I'm really happy for her. I mean, she faced so many challenges, so many injuries, and every time she's able to come back on the top level, she's playing incredible tennis. The variation is impressive.nSerf and Wally, great player, and I had really tight, tough losses in the past to her. So I'm really looking forward to get that revenge.nnQuestion :nA couple of days ago here, you talked about that you are practising slices and volley often, and today you made these shots at very crucial points. So how did you think that it's important for you to have that kind of options, and how happy you are to make these very important points?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I think it's really important to have all the skills, all the variation in your game, especially in those crucial moments when the opponent is used to one tennis from me, and if I'm able to play around and change it whenever I need, whenever I feel like I have to. I think that makes the difference, and that's what puts my opponent even under more pressure. I think that's very important, and I'm really happy that we're working on everything with my team and trying to improve every aspect of my game.nSo, yeah, I think that's really important, and as you said, on the crucial moments, these things really help me.nnQuestion :nYou've talked about finding calm in your life and learning to separate personal life from tennis, but I'm just wondering, have you also learned to carry some of that calm onto the court, maybe in tight situations like tonight in the second set?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I worked really hard on my mindset on the match, and I think I made a really huge improvement on that calmness, on those crucial moments, and I'm really happy to see that in those key moments I'm able to stay focused and just try to do my best and focus on my tennis, on things which I have to do to win this match, not like on the outside, and even if things are not working well for me, I still keep doing the right things, and I'm staying in control.nI'm really proud. I'm actually really proud of myself that I was able to...

Emma Navarro's press conference following her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.nnQuestion :nEmma, if you would, your thoughts on the match.nnEmma Navarro :nYeah, it was a really amazing experience being out there on Ash playing an opponent like her. Obviously, it's disappointing to not be able to get the win today, and it looked like, you know, I kind of got my teeth into it there at the end of the second set, and I felt like, you know, I could definitely push it to a third. I wasn't able to do so, but, you know, it was an incredible experience, an amazing atmosphere, and, you know, she played really good when it came down to the wire, and, you know, I didn't play as well.nSo, yeah, I hope to be back for sure.nnQuestion :nEmma, always tough to lose, but I imagine you're walking away from here with a ton of positives, top ten player, and I would say this tournament really probably gives you a whole new lease on life.nnNavarro :nYeah, you know, it's crazy to have come into this tournament a week and a half, almost two weeks ago, and, you know, I was kind of joking a little bit with my team, but a little bit serious as well that, you know, I was looking to win one match at the U.S. Open, and now to be leaving, having made a run, gotten to the semifinals, and now I'm a top ten player, it's pretty crazy, and I think it's a testament to a lot of hard work. So definitely leaving with a lot of positives.nnQuestion :nHey, Emma. What did it feel like walking onto the court tonight? I mean, was it different than the other matches?nDid you feel the sort of gravity of the moment? And then what did it feel like sort of going through the match as you sort of get into that first set against your power, and then as you say, get your teeth into it, and you hear the crowd doing what they were doing?nnNavarro :nYeah, for sure, there was a different feeling walking out there tonight as opposed to last few times I played. You know, part of it's it was the semifinals, part of it it's a night match, my first night match on Ash, and I'm playing an opponent like I did play today. There's for sure a different feeling, but it's definitely a feeling that maybe I didn't deal with it 100% the way I wanted to throughout the match, but it's a feeling that I'll definitely be seeking again, and I think it's something that I'll only improve at handling, and, yeah, it was a pretty amazing atmosphere out there.nnQuestion :nPeter, it's Ben D'Orio, New York Daily News. How meaningful was it for you to do it here in New York, you know, where you were born?nnNavarro :nYeah, so special. Playing in front of the American fans, you know, with the American flag next to my name, I have a lot of pride in where I come from, and, you know, being an American is something that's really important to me, and, you know, I got to represent the U.S. in the Olympics earlier this year. It's something that I care a lot about, so to come back and be able to play in the U.S., especially here in New York City, it's pretty incredible, and it's definitely pushed me to sort of look back at, you know, where I started out and where I'm at now, and I feel like it's only going to keep getting better. So, yeah, really special playing here in New York.nnQuestion :nBrian Lewis from the New York Post. What are some of the things that I guess that you can take from this run? And I'm not talking matchups specific to this player or that player, but what are some of the things that you can take from this that you can put to use going forward?nnNavarro :nI think something that, you know, I've been learning more and more is that there's, you know, pillars to my game, and I think in the past some of those pillars have sort of been day-to-day dependent on how I feel with a certain shot or, you know, my confidence level with my game, and I think I'm learning more and more that, you know, those pillars of my game are non-negotiables, and, you know, it's how I play, and it's who I am as a player, and accepting that if I can't execute those parts of my game good enough on a given day, then, you know, I can't win that day, but not, you know, sacrificing who I am as a player, and I think in the long run that will give me the best chance, you know, to win matches and have the best results. So maybe long story short, just getting more comfortable and confident in who I am as a player.nnQuestion :nYou said earlier in the tournament that you had the belief you could win the tournament. How did that fuel maybe your comeback in this particular match, and what was it like to develop that feeling during this tournament?nnNavarro :nYeah, pretty crazy. You know, kind of talking about winning a Grand Slam, it's, you know, something that even just a few months ago I, you know, was not even really on my radar, so to now be in a position where, you know, I'm thinking about and working towards winning Grand Slams is exciting and it's motivating, and, yeah, for sure, you know, I wasn't ready for the match to be over there at 5-3. I really wanted to stick in there and keep playing, and, you know, the crowd got into it, which was awesome there at the second set.nYeah, it was maybe a little bit of a learning curve out there, you know, feeling like, okay, I can win this, like I'm in this, and I'm obviously playing a great opponent, but, you know, I can push back against her serve, and, you know, I can be – I can, you know, get ahead in points and play the aggressive game. So, yeah, definitely a bit of a learning curve out there.nnQuestion :nEmma, you're a very rational person, very logical and composed.nSo how do you manage your emotions when you go through even a late stage of a tournament like this when things have got to be going kind of crazy in your head?nnNavarro :nYeah, a little bit. I try to just be super present and, you know, I know who I am as a person and I'm getting more comfortable and confident with who I am as a player. And I have a lot of trust and belief in the team that I have around me.nAnd, you know, my family is incredibly supportive, and they're always in my corner no matter what. And, you know, to them I'm a daughter and a sister before I am a tennis player. So I think it's really important for me to have those people around me that keep me grounded, especially, you know, when things can feel hectic or overwhelming or just out of my control.nSo, yeah, I just put a lot of trust and belief, I guess, in the people around me.nnQuestion :nDiane De Costanza from the USTA. I was wondering about Irina's forehand speed.nIt was clocking in, averaging really high. Had you played against her with that kind of pace against her shot? Did it feel different tonight than it did when you two were matched up previously?nnNavarro :nI don't think so. It didn't really feel different, I would say. I don't know the miles per hour comparison, but, yeah, I think the last times I played her it felt like it was coming pretty big over the net.nTowards my side of the court. So, yeah, not really different, but it's obviously a huge weapon and definitely felt that at times today.

Jessica Pegula's on-court interview following her win against Karolina Muchova in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.nnSpeaker:nWell Jessica Pegula, through to your first ever major final. I got so many questions. What were you thinking?nnA set, two love, break point down, you hit that absolutely amazing slice forehand and she missed that volley. What went through your mind after that point?nnPegula :nI was thinking, alright that was kind of lucky, like try, like you're still in this. And it comes down to really small moments that flip momentum and she, I came out flat but she was playing unbelievable. I mean she made me look like a beginner.nnI was like about to like burst into tears because it was embarrassing. Like she was destroying me and I was able to just hold into that game and I was able to find a way, find some adrenaline, find my legs and then at the end of the second set into the third set I started to play like how I wanted to play and it just, I yeah, it took a while but I don't know how I turned that around honestly.nnSpeaker :nWe saw you after the second set when she went off the court. You went over to the boys from the Bahamas over there, your coaching crew. What did they tell you in that time that you went over there?nnPegula :nYeah they were telling me to mix up the serve a little bit, keep mixing up the spins and keeping her guessing, a few kicks out wide maybe to her backhand and to just play her backhand maybe a little bit more. You know she was getting that backhand down the line really well just to cover that a little bit more. It was just a few other things.nnI mean it wasn't anything different. I started to kind of do it at the end of the second but I think I was really able to hone in on a couple of those things really early and you know also just compete and use my legs and try and think clearly out there.nnSpeaker :nSo your sister's in the box there. Your dad's also here. He doesn't sit in the box.nnHe's some random spot here in the stadium. Oh there he is up on the big screen and your mom is at home. What does it mean to you to have your family all here supporting you and what does that mean for you to be in your first final of a Grand Slam at the US Open?nnPegula :nI mean it's amazing. I have my brother there, my sister there. On the screen was my dad, my brother-in-law, lots of friends, lots of family all scattered around.nnObviously my husband. Oh yeah I forgot about him. He's not even standing up.nnHe doesn't want to be seen. But yeah I have so much family here and they've been here watching a lot of my matches so to still be here and have them still here supporting me is crazy. I'm glad that they're able to share this moment with me.nnSpeaker :nOkay so next we know your next opponent is Irina Sabalenka. Give me your thoughts on playing her and just what this means to you to finally be in a major final.nnPegula :nI mean first of all I'm just happy I was able to turn this match around on such a big stage and figure it out but two yeah playing Irina is gonna be really tough. I mean she yeah she showed how tough she is and why she's probably the favorite to win this tournament. It'll be a rematch of Cincinnati so hopefully I can get some revenge out here but happy to have a day off.nnIt's kind of crazy that we're playing each other again in the finals but I think it just shows how you know how much great tennis we've been playing and she's gonna be obviously tough to beat but you know that's what the finals are for so I'm ready.nnSpeaker :nJessica this is one of the most phenomenal turnarounds in your biggest match of your career. I've said it all week. She takes the subway.nnShe was born in New York through to her first major final Jessica Pegula.